WARNING TO SUPERMARKETS ON DECEPTIVE CONDUCTS

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The Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) has noted with great concern that some prominent supermarkets in the country are intentionally engaged in deceptive pricing with a view to defraud unsuspecting consumers.

A recent inspection of the top ten supermarkets in the cities of Lilongwe and Blantyre showed that they were craftily engaged in the following deceptive practices;

• displaying lower prices on the shelves and charging higher prices at the till
• displaying lower overall amount on the till screen while the printed transaction receipt shows a higher amount.
• displaying edible food products bearing two expiry date labels.
• Non display of prices

In view of this, the Commission would like to warn all supermarkets that it is an offence, under the Competition and Fair Trading Act and Consumer Protection Act for any trader to engage in any form of deceptive or misleading conduct. It is also an offence for any trader to engage in any unfair or unconscionable tactics aimed at profiteering and taking advantage of consumers.

The Commission will take stern measures to deal with any supermarket that continues to engage in such malpractices. This will include "naming and shaming" and huge punitive fines to offending supermarkets in the hope that these penalties will motivate them to comply voluntarily with consumer protections laws.

Finally, the Commission wishes to advise the general public to ensure that they exercise caution when dealing with some of these supermarkets which are blatantly bent on defrauding unsuspecting consumers.If you encounter any of the conducts enumerated above, please report to the CFTC.

 

 

CHARLOTTE WEZI MALONDA

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR